It's here at long last! IBM PureSystems was announced today and in particular the IBM PureApplication System family member. IBM PureApplication System includes many of the capabilities that you have been hearing about and using in IBM Workload Deployer. While this solution includes and builds upon the capabilities of Workload Deployer, there's also a lot more functionality that is built into a completely integrated and optimized solution that not only manages your private cloud but runs it in the most optimized fashion. It really is a complete private cloud solution that is highly optimized to provide the best possible integration of software and hardware made simple for your cloud needs.

The answer is yes, I did a related but different blog post with a similar title a few weeks back. At that time I was primarily highlighting a webinar that I co-presented with Keith Smith regarding the various virtualization solutions and features that are available in IBM Workload Deployer in virtual application patterns and virtual system patterns leveraging the Intelligent Management Pack (IMP). If you didn't get a chance to attend that webcast live then I encourage you to check out the replay (especially Keith's portion with details on IMP - a really helpful overview).

This new blog post expands on the theme of that original blog post but takes a broader vision of where IBM has been with our private cloud offerings in WCA and IWD up to and including the recently announced IBM PureApplication System - and how this history demonstrates our leadership in supporting applications in the cloud.

It does not seem like it has been a year, but here we are again. It is time for IBM Impact 2012, and like each year, this one promises to be a little better than its predecessors. As I type this post, I am 36,000 feet above either Texas or New Mexico on my way to the neon desert for a completely packed week. I can't wait to arrive!

An obvious summary of IBM Impact would be to say that it is a technology conference. That does not quite do it justice though. The event is packed full with stories of business transformation, emerging business paradigms and the technologies that support them, new product announcements and much more. That said, in my mind IBM Impact is first and foremost a premier technical education conference. The week is stuffed with technical session after technical session on a wide range of topics.

With that in mind, I thought I would share a few of the sessions I have highlighted on my calendar. To be honest, I had a hard time setting up my calendar for the week. In some cases I ended up booking three sessions in one time slot. There are simply too many good sessions to choose from, so this list is nowhere near exhaustive, and it is certainly not my full calendar!

Summary: This session will provide an overview of the new IBM Mobile Foundation: a new middleware offering from IBM that will enable customers to build and deliver innovative mobile applications, centrally govern and manage their mobile infrastructure, and integrate with existing enterprise data and services. Attendees will leave with an understanding of what the platform is and how it can help them effectively and efficiency take advantage of mobile for their enterprise.

Summary: This session will provide an overview of elastic caching, explain IBM's offerings and technology and will share a set of usage scenarios that will demonstrate why this technology is so hot -- and why it can dramatically benefit our partners' offerings, solutions and ROI.

Summary: Setting the bar higher for app server resiliency and robustness, IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment v8.Next sets itself even further apart from the industry. Now included with WAS ND is virtualization, improved availability and health monitoring, Java batch processing and more. This session covers the details.

Summary: Cloud and virtualization is being pared with a new best practices-based approach to application development, deployment and automation of custom and independent software vendor applications across a range of deployment environments. Whether you're targeting existing hardware and software stacks, new private cloud infrastructure or public cloud resources, or all three, a pattern-based approach to applications can deliver unmatched portability and time to market. Cloud computing is helping to deliver a level of automation and self service needed in todays dynamic business landscape. Learn how these technologies are unfolding, and what your company can do to get started today to drive speed, efficiency and lower total cost of ownership across your IT investments.

Summary: This session will cover all the different ways that new functionality can be developed for use with IBM Workload Deployer and IBM PureApplication System. This will include the ICON Image Construction tool, Capture and Extend, and also the IWD PDK.

Summary: (Plug Alert! -- I will be co-presenting this session) IBM PureApplication System provides a virtualized platform of cost effective, next generation hardware with an optimized capabilities that automates workload lifecycle management, from deployment to quiescence. How is it different from other solutions that promise the same benefits? Join us as we examine the unique capabilities of IBM PureApplication System. Learn about the value of IBM PureApplication System for your business, and why it is truly heads and shoulders above the competition! Explore in detail why IBM PureApplication System can better deliver on these capabilities than other alternatives such as Oracle's Exalogic. Comparisons will be based on quantitative metrics using results from actual experiences with both products.

Summary: In this session, we will examine a practical approach for organizations to optimize their computing environment by using IBM WebSphere technology. We explore the use of IBM's fit for purpose methodology for optimal workload placement, how the use of IBM's Workload Deployer, IBM Datapower, the IBM Rational Automation Framework for WebSphere and WebSphere Virtual Enterprise can be used in the development of a private cloud that maximizes your total computing environment.

Summary: Are you considering an Oracle WebLogic or an open source application server like Tomcat or JBoss? In this session we will discuss key factors to consider when making a decision on which application server to use, such as cost of licenses and support, performance, availability and usability lab tests, administrative and development tools, and real world customer experiences. We will discuss factors that contribute to TCO such as development and operating costs, and application performance and reliability. We will discuss how new capabilities of WAS v8.Next enhance its competitive position. Session will be presented by Roman Kharkovski, who has been a technical lead on the WW WebSphere Competitive Team since 1999 and Stuart Smith, who is lead consultant with Web Age Solutions and worked with all major application servers and Java since 1998.

Summary: eXtremeMemory allows you to store objects in native memory instead of on the Java heap. By moving objects off the Java heap, you can avoid garbage collection pauses, leading to more consistent performance and predictable response times.

These are just a few of the interesting sessions I have highlighted on my calendar. I am going to sit in on many more, and I will be writing a summary of the event soon enough. For those of you heading to IBM Impact, safe travels and I hope to see you there!